Technical Field

The present invention relates to containers in which to grow plants and more particularly to containers that can be connected together to form rows and/or trays and which are capable of being stacked.

Background Art

Containers and trays of containers for growing seedlings (etc) are known. For example, New Zealand Design Nos. 23621 and 22772 disclose trays of cells of two different designs. New Zealand Patent Nos 180941 and 234775 disclose a four cell, hinged tray for growing rooted seedlings, commonly referred to as a "root trainer".

However existing designs of trays of cells and root trainers have various problems: the trays cannot be easily separated into smaller units. This can make use of the trays in plantation plantings awkward. The root trainers need stands to support them as they are not self supporting in an upright closed position. The trays do not stack easily, whilst root trainers stack well, but in an opened position only.

Single pots or cells on their own can be stacked, but cannot be moved en masse without the use of supporting trays or other support means.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is the provision of containers for growing plants which can be joined together to form rows or trays, stacked individually or in rows or trays, and which are self supporting either individually or when connected in multiples. A further object of the invention is the provision of containers that improve the versatility and ease of handling of growing containers in all aspects of their use.

The present invention provides a container for growing one or more plants, said container including a base capable of bearing said container in an upright position without further support; a plurality of sides; a top including an opening bounded by four side portions; at least two side portions including one part of one or two connecting means, each connecting means including a male and a female part; wherein at least one side

portion includes at least one male connecting part and at least one side portion includes the respective female connecting part.

Preferably, one said connecting means incorporates a male and a female dovetail connection means which can be releasably connected by movement of the two parts in the horizontal direction. An alternative connecting means incorporates dovetails than can be joined with relative vertical movement of two containers.

Alternatively, one said connecting means incorporates a male rod and a female clasp which can be releasably connected by either pushing the rod within the clasp or sliding the rod into the clasp. Additionally each container includes means to prevent a container from slipping when said container is conneαed to one or more containers and all the containers are held by said one or other containers. Preferably this means includes a protruding lip on the very top of the container on the side(s) with female connecting parts; which lip is long enough to overlap the top of an adjacent container, when the containers are joined. Also the (non-slip) means includes a circular cap on the top of each male rod part (if that alternative is used).

Preferably each said container is integral and made of a plastics material that is ultra-violet light resistant. Preferably said containers are produced by injection moulding of a polypropylene material. Preferably also each container includes means to train the roots of plants grown therein. Preferably said base includes a hole therein to allow the plant and growing substrate to be pushed out of the container from the bottom towards the top.

Brief Description of Drawings By way of example only, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of two sides of a single container of the present invention showing two preferred embodiments of the connecting means;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the other two sides of a single container of the present invention showing two preferred embodiments of the connecting means;

Fig. 3 is a partial cutaway view of the container shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the container of the present invention.

Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention Referring to Figs. 1-3 a single container 2 is thereshown. The container 2 includes a top portion 3, a base 4 with a hole 5 therein, and sides 6. The edges between adjacent sides 6 may be rounded (as shown), if so desired. The sides 6 slope gradually over their length such that the cross-sectional area of the container 2 adjacent the base 4 is smaller than that adjacent the top 3. Each side 6 may include one or more slots 7. These can be included for containers

2 in which it is desirable to encourage the branching of the roots of the plant (not shown) at it grows. Alternatively, each side 6 may include one or more ribs 8 running the length of the container 2, to encourage the roots to grow toward the base 4 of the container 2. Each container 2 may include a combination of sides 6 with slots 7 and ribs 8. Each top 3 includes a planar face 9 which is substantially vertical when the container 2 is in an upright position. Each face 9 includes thereon either a male or a female portion of a dovetail join. The dovetail join may be oriented such that adjacent containers 2 can be joined with a vertical motion of the containers 2 relative to one another, thus joining female portion 10 with male portion 11 (Fig. 1). Alternatively, adjacent containers 2 may be joined with a horizontal motion of the containers 2 relative to one another, thus joining a female portion 12 with a male portion 13 (Figs. 1-3).

Each female portion (10, 12) forms a wedge and is in the shape of a trapezium in cross-section. In the first alternative (10) the two parallel sides are horizontal, and in the second alternative (12) the two parallel sides are vertical. The short sides 14 of the female portions (10, 12) are angled inward towards the centre of the respective face 9. In the first alternative (10) the portion 10 covers the bulk of the face 9, but can be narrower, if so desired. In the second alternative (12) the wedge covers only one half of the face 9, thus allowing engagement and disengagement with the respective male portion 13 on a second container 2. The first alternative male portion (11) includes two inwardly sloping wedges, the distance between the wedges being complementary to the dimensions of the female

portion 10. The short inner sides 14 are at the same angle as those on the respective female portion 10. Thus, in the first alterative when one container 2 is held adjacent but slightly higher than a second container 2, the two can be joined by a vertical sliding motion of one container 2 relative to the second container 2. If the four faces 4 of all containers 2 incorporate this alterative of the dovetail join, any containers 2 may be joined together to form rows, blocks or any desired shape of sets of containers 2.

In the second alternative the male portion 13 comprises a pair of wedges positioned horizontally on one half of a face 9. If the female portion 12 is positioned on the left hand side of a face 9, then the male portion 13 is positioned on the right hand side of another face 9. Thus when the male and female portions 12, 13 are slidably connected, the two joined containers 2 form a rectangle in plan. As in the first alternative, the short sides 14 are at an angle to the respective face 9, said angle being complementary for the male and female portions (12, 13).

A further alternative to either of the above embodiments is to position one of each sets of portions (10, 11 and 12, 13) on each container 2, so that joins in one direction along a block or row of containers 2 are made with a horizontal sliding motion, and joins in the other direction (at right angles) are made with a vertical sliding motion.

The dovetail joins have been described above with reference to planar faces 9 that are substantially vertical when the container 2 is upright. If so desired, the faces 9 may be at a small angle relative to the vertical. This being providing that the dovetail joins result in a combination of containers 2 that can stand unsupported.

Referring to Fig. 4, a second preferred embodiment of the container 22, with a third preferred embodiment of the join, is thereshown.

The container 22 includes a top portion 23, a base 24 with a hole (not shown) therein, and sides 26. The sides 26 slope gradually over their length, as in the above- described embodiment. Slots 27 and ribs 28 are as described above, and other similarly numbered parts are as described above.

Each top 23 includes a planer face 29 which is substantially vertical when the container 22 is upright. Each face 29 includes thereon two portions (both being either male 31 or female 32) of a snap-or-slide fit connection ("snap fit connection"). Each male portion 31 is in the form of a rod 31a with a flat cap 31b of greater diameter at the top.

The cap 31b sits above the top of the container 22 and the rod 31a extends below the face 29 to which it is secured. A webbing 31c is attached between each rod 31a and respective side 26.

Each female portion 32 is in the form of an elongate partial cylinder; which forms a collar with a slit opening 32a along the length of the female portion 32 and a circular opening 32b at the top and bottom of the female portion 32.

The snap fit connection operates in one of two ways. Firstly, the male portion 31 may be pushed against the slit opening 32a. The edges of material around the slit opening

32a are resiliently deformable and the rod 31a will move into the hollow within the female portion 32. Secondly the male position 31 may be slid down into the hollow by inserting the rod 31a into the top slit opening 32a and sliding the respective container 22 (with male portion 31) downwards relative to the container 22 (with female portion 32) or vice versa.

In addition to stopping over-sliding when connecting male and female portions (31,

32), each cap 31b prevents one container 22 from sliding/falling/slipping away from an adjacent attached container 22 if the adjacent container 22 is held up and supported whilst the one container 22 is not.

Similarly to retain a plurality of containers 22 (or adjacent containers 22) in a fixed spatial relationship, a flap 34 is positioned on the top of each side 29 with female portions 32. Each flap 34 is centrally positioned along the side of 29. Each flap 34 is supported by a connective webbing 33 to the respective side 29. The outer edge of the flap 34 is in part tapered (34a, 34b) and in part centrally recessed 34c. The tapered portions 24a, b are of sufficient length that the flap 34 rests on the top of the side 29 of an adjacent, connected container 22.

This position assists in keeping all connected containers 22 in constant spatial relationship if some containers 22 are unsupported. For example, if a tray of containers

22 is picked up by one (corner) container, the tray will remain intact. The caps 31b aid the flaps 34, in achieving this.

When the containers 32 are to be separated the recess 34c can be used to insert a screw driver or the narrow flat implement to lever each flap 34 off the respective adjacent containers 22. If the flaps 32 are sufficiently flexible manual separation may be all that is required. Each snap fit connection may be broken or undone by pulling containers 22 apart or sliding one container 22 down relative to adjacent containers (the

container 22 with the female portion 32 being the container 22 which descends relative to the container 22 with the respective male portion 31).

Each container (2,22) is made integrally, but need not be, if this is desired. In practice it has been found that the best method of production of the containers (2,22) is by injection moulding of a plastics material. The material is preferably one that is resistant to ultra-violet light. It has been found that the most appropriate material is a polypropylene, and most preferably a polycarbonate. Each container (2,22) has been described as being of square cross-section. This may be varied (for example, hexagonal, circular) and the variation can be reflected in the shape of the top portion (3,23). The container (2,22) has been described above as containing a hole (7,27) in the base (4,24). This is desirable for use of the containers (2,22) in conjunction with machinery for automatically or mechanically removing the seedling and attendant substrate from said container (2,22). However, it will be appreciated that such hole (7,27) can be replaced with a plurality of smaller holes (not shown), if so desired. Additionally, Fig. 2 shows a container 2 with an optional lug 15 projecting downwards from the base 4. One or more lugs 15 can be incorporated into each container 2 to allow for aerial pruning of any roots, if so desired.

The container (2,22) can be made in any size that is appropriate for the growing of the desired plants. For example, the size might be such that each container (2,22) can hold one of a range of quantities of growing substrate - 20, 40 60, 100 (etc) cubic centimetres. When not in use the containers (2,22) can be stacked individually, or in rows, or in trays, as is desired. Similarly, when plants are ready, a single container (2,22) or a row or a block can be formed into, or separated from, a larger conglomeration of containers (2,22). This can be done as is desired, for ease of handling, sale, planting (etc). Also, as an alternative it will be appreciated that each container may grow more than one plant by containing more than one "cell" or growing space for a plant.

The preferred embodiment disclosed above describes three types of male/female connections. However it will be appreciated that other types of male /female connections may also be used. Also, as an addition or as an alternative, the male/female connections may be formed on side portions that form part of the top surface of the container. For example, the top of the container may be flanged and the connections secured thereto. The containers may be aligned side by side for connection.